Dance curators selected for FOCUS 2014

Gotham Arts Exchange recently announced the dance curators for FOCUS 2014, the international platform to promote American dance both abroad and nationally.

FOCUS DANCE at The Joyce Theater will be curated by Laurie Uprichard and DANCE GOTHAM at New York University’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts will be curated by Jodee Nimerichter.

DANCE GOTHAM and FOCUS DANCE are both part of FOCUS 2014, a program presenting performances of U.S.-based dance companies during the annual Arts Presenters Conference in New York City. The week-long platform is one of the largest gatherings of presenters, programmers and dance professionals in North America. In January 2014, four venues will partner with Gotham Arts Exchange to present the artistic visions of the curators gathered to shape the 2014 edition of FOCUS.

Currently a freelance consultant and producer, Laurie Uprichard has significant experience in curating. Most recently, she served as Director of the Dublin Dance Festival from 2007-2011, overseeing its transition to an annual festival and expanding its international visibility, audience outreach and support of the local dance community.

Before that Uprichard was Executive Director of Danspace Project in New York City from 1992-2007, a period of significant programmatic and budget growth for this dance presenter. She served as Managing Director of Urban Bush Women from 1991-1992 and as the company’s Producing Director until January 1996. From 1984-1991, she was associated with Dance Theater Workshop, serving the last three years as Managing Director and Co-Producer. She was a staff member in various programs at the New York State Council on the Arts between 1973 and 1981.

In addition, she toured briefly as Company Manager with Meredith Monk/The House. A former dancer, she performed with Kei Takei’s Moving Earth for five years, as well as with Irene Feigenheimer, Barbara Roan and Wendy Woodson. Uprichard currently serves on the Board of Danspace Project; has twice served on the Board of Dance/USA, chairing its Presenters Council from 2002-2004; and has served as a board member of Movement Research. She is a Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters in the French Ministry of Culture and received a 2008 New York Dance and Performance (Bessie) Award for her service to the field.

She holds an M.B.A. with a concentration in marketing from The American University and a B.A. in psychology from the University of Miami.

Likewise, Jodee Nimerichter is also very familiar with dance curating as the Director of the American Dance Festival. Nimerichter most recently served as the festival’s Associate Director from 2003 to 2007 and Co-Director from 2007 to 2011. She also worked for the festival from 1991 to 1999 in numerous capacities, beginning as an intern.

In addition, Nimerichter currently serves as a Hubsite for the National Dance Project, on the Advisory Board of Emory College Center for Creativity & Arts and as a Board Member for Durham Central Park. She is also the current acting curator for the 2013 FOCUS DANCE in New York City.

In her significantly noteworthy career, Nimerichter was also a production member of Great Performances: Dance in America at Thirteen/WNET New York. There she co-produced the award-winning performance documentary, Born to Be Wild: The Leading Men of American Ballet Theatre (2002) featuring Jose Manuel Carreño (Cuba), Angel Corella (Spain), Vladimir Malakhov (Russia) and Ethan Stiefel (USA.) She also co-produced television recordings of the Broadway revival of The Women and the Broadway musical Fosse.

Most recently she produced American Dance Festival’s Dancing in the Light (2007), a program showcasing six historic works by African American choreographers, for PBS.

Nimerichter graduated from New York University with a degree in performing arts administration. During college she held internships at American Dance Festival, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival and Changing Times Tap Dancing Company.

Produced by Gotham Arts Exchange, FOCUS 2014 will be held Jan. 7-13, 2014. For more information on the upcoming FOCUS 2013 visit www.focusdance.us.